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The economic outlook remains poor for major economies though there are growing signs of stabilisation in Canada, China and the US, the OECD said on Monday. In its latest monthly report on the global economy, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development said its composite leading indicator for the 33-nation OECD held steady in September at 100.2 for the third month in a row. The reading for the US rose marginally to 100.9 from 100.8 in August, which the OECD said was indicative of growth stabilising in the world’s biggest economy. China’s reading was steady at 99.4 for the fourth month in a row while Canada’s was also unchanged at 99.7.

North Korea has serious food shortages: UN

North Korea increased its staple foods production for the second year in a row but its citizens are still suffering from a serious lack of key proteins and fats in their diets, a UN report said Monday. A UN team visited all nine agricultural provinces of the communist state in September and October during the main cereal harvest and estimated that even with the increase — a 10% improvement over last year — North Korea will need to import 507,000 metric tons of cereals to meet its basic food needs. North Korea has struggled for decades to feed its 24 million people.

Standard Life blasts Xstrata pay plan

Standard Life Investments, one of the 10 largest shareholders in Xstrata, is to vote against a pay plan tied to the

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